Help a dying young man
 

Hi.
A friend of a friend of mines son is dying. They are driving down from Vancouver on his "fair well "tour of things he would like to see or do before he dies. He has MD and his brother passed away from it a few years ago.
As a Father of two I can't imagine what going through this is like.
One of the things he would like to do before he dies is see up close and personal an exotic car.
He can't get in it and go for a ride because of all his surgeries and he is attached to a respirator, but he would like to see and hear one.
I , unfortunately will be out of town while he is here with his family and my little SC doesn't really count as exotic.
Does anyone have or know someone who has a Ferrari or Lambo they could show this young man?
I've attached the last few E-mails we have exchanged to bring you up to speed.
If any one can help this family out I would gladly buy you a a beer or three when I get back into town


Steve
What a very nice thing for you to offer! Alexander would love it,ut we don't know if he could actually go for a ride. He said that even though he might be able to ride in an exotic sports car; He wouldn't mind checking it out.
Alexander is in a power chair and is on a ventilator about 90 percent of the time. He has had rod surgery on his back because of scoliosis and has had plates put in his hips because his hips became dislocated after an unrelated surgery. He has had some not good experiences on top of his illness.
Alexander has Duchennes Muscular Dystrophy and with all the guy has gone through; He is to this day one of the most positive optimistic people I know.
Alexander was also involved in the modified ski program in Whistler. A ski resort close to our town. He did the sit ski program on Whistler/Blackcomb Mountain before his surgeries. He loved it.
Where do you do your ski program? Have you ever been to Whistler/ Blackcomb Mountains?
I understand that you have a child in a wheelchair as well. Do you mind if I ask about your son?
Thank you again for your kind offer and hope to have the opportunity to meet you guys when we come down!
Susie McCormack
Hi Sue
Unfortunately my family and myself will be out of town at a wedding while you are here, or we would have loved to meet you and your family.
If you let me know a date and time I could try and make arrangements for someone with a really nice car, Porsche, Ferrari, etc come by and visit you so Alexander could check it out in person.
I am Canadian and was just in Vancouver last week. I have spent lots of time at Whistler before it was BlackComb.
We ski out of our local mountain, Big Bear and have been involved in the adaptive program for years.
Our oldest son , Bryce has CP is a quad, non verbal. It's quite a journey sometimes.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Alexander would love to check out a nice sports car so long as it's not to much of an inconvenience.
We will be arriving in Burbank on the afternoon of the 13th; staying until the morning of the 16th. We are staying at the Safari Inn.
I am thinking that maybe in the late morning would be good on the Wed. the 14th, or that evening. As far as I know; We are going to watch the taping of Lopez tonight at 2:30 that day and will head back to the hotel after that. If this works? Our reservation is under my name Susan McCormack if someone wants to call.
I think it is great that you are involved with the adaptive ski program! It is a great program and must be very rewarding for you.
If you and your family are ever visiting up here; we would love to meet you guys! Maybe we could get Kim and her husband Jim up here. I have yet to meet Kim's husband and she has not met my husband yet either. He, unfortunately, will not be traveling with us on this adventure.
I hope I didn't appear to be nosey asking about your son. It's not easy having a child with challenges.
Alexander is our second son with DMD; Our oldest son had DMD, He passed away Jan.1,2004. We also have a beautiful daughter; the baby of our family. She is healthy. She and Alexander are very close.
Thank you for doing this for the offer offer to see the sports car! We sure appreciate this!
Susie McCormack [/COLOR]

Please, please and thank you
Steve

I can't help with a car but I'll give a bump and send thoughts and prayers to the family.

Waleters porsche in riverside has a really sweet black ferrari. Maybe 3 years old in the show room of their used car department.

I bet they would love to light it up for him.

Good luck!

My neighbor has a Shelby Cobra that looks/sounds awesome but that's ~ 1.5 hrs South. Surely there are folks in LA area that can accommodate this boy and his folks...

If it's money lets pool together and hire something.

Tragic story.

Seriously, contact any Ron Tonkin dealership in Portland, Oregon...I'm sure they could put you in touch with his Ferrari store...might even get a guided tour of Ron Tonkin's collection...

(edit) I did a search...here's a link to the Toy store in Portland...

http://www.rtgt.com/

Bump. Seriously, give them a call...the toll free number is on their website...All they could do is say no if you ask...and they probably couldn't say no in this case.

Steve - what does their timeline look like? It sounds like they're already down in the LA area, but I can see if we can pull together the Portland Beers and Burgers crew together on their way back up. I'll also reach out to Speed Sports, one of the local exotic car shops, to see if they'd be willing to help out. If it's easier, PM or email me.

Josh

Crap. Too bad my partner had to go and total his Maser. Otherwise we could have borrowed that for a few hours.

What about Supercar Sunday in Woodland Hills, or Cars and Coffee down in Irvine? More exotic cars than you can shake a stick at. The average guy shows up in a late model Ferrari. Of just stop by a place like Auto Gallery; Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, & Audi. Even one of the two malls on Topanga (the nicer one, further from the Ventura Fwy) has a Lamborghini dealership in it.

Will he be coming through Phoenix?

I am flying some handicapped kids next weekend and if he can get in a four place plane would be glad to give him a ride.

Joe A

Thanks for the offers everyone.
I think the son gets very fatigued very easily. I was hoping someone had a friend with a really nice ride they could swing by the hotel with and see this guy.
Here's the hotel info
Safari Inn
1911 W Olive Ave · Burbank
(818) 845-8586
I'm going to call her Wed morning and will report back.
I will forward all the suggestions to her, but if anyone thinks they can help this young mans last trip be more memorable please just call the hotel and see what you can do

Thanks
Steve

Hope his wish comes true...:)

Is there a way to get this to Jay Leno?

Great idea.

Doesn't Wayne know Jay ?? Great idea Steve

I talked to Susie this morning. Anyone willing to help out in the Portland, OR let me know. They'll be back through our area around the 27th or 28th of the month. Unfortunately, my car is still down, but I'm hoping others are willing to bring their cars out for Alexander.

Josh
Thank you so much!!!!!
I ended up leaving this to too late as I had to suddenly fly to Florida last week and drive my mom, dad and their car all the way back to Toronto and then fly back to LA and am leaving first thing in the morn again.
I was hoping to set this up last week but I ended up on a 4 day drive for my parents
I'm kind of just leaving it out there for anyone who can step up to the plate and help Alexander.
Thanks for doing this.
I'll make a call about Leno
Steve

Steve - Glad to help out.

Good news! I talked to Matt from Speed Sports and he will open up their exclusive lot to Alexander and his family and any local Pelicans willing to show up and lend their support. We can use the Speed Sports lot as a gathering place to show Alexander our cars next to some of the ones Matt has in inventory.

well done Josh,
that was your 911th post..
well spent IMO..
& thank you Steve for ringing the bell..

Rika

I know the guy that Bought my car lift back in october/nov of last year knows Jay. I don't remember I will look and see if I can find his name as he is a member here

Rika - didn't even realize that. Definitely a great way so "spend" number 911!